Crimping tool



M- B. HOLMES Jan. 4, 1966 CRIMPING TOOL 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 14,1963 rvuamu INVENTOR Y H. M W. m 0 R w m m Y B M. B. HOLMES Jan. 4, 1966CRIMPING TOOL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 14, 1965 INVENTORMARIO/VEJVOZMEJ M? ATTOPA/l-Y M. B. HOLMES CRIMPING TOOL Jan. 4, 1966 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 14, 1963 INVENTOR MAk/O/V 8. l/OlMfS W12 Jan.4, 1966 M. B. HOLMES 3,226,968

CRIMPING TOOL Filed Aug. 14, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR MAP/0N8.HOLMES BY WK 64am AT TOkA/E Y United States Patent 3,226,968 CRIMPINGTOOL Marion B. Holmes, Drayton Plains, Mich., assignor to GeneralDynamics Corporation, San Diego, Calif., a corporation of Delaware FiledAug. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 302,170 7 Claims. (Cl. 72-402) The presentinvention relates generally to crimping tools and more particularly tocrimping tools that are selectively adjustable to positively effect agiven indentation in crimping a connector conductor combination.

In using known crimping tools to crimp connectors on to conductors, itis often difiicult to consistently effect standard indentations fordifferent size connectors. This problem is compounded where the size ofthe connectors vary widely or where the connectors have wide ranges ofwall thicknesses and tempers. However, it is obviously advantageous tohave a crimping tool capable of positively crimping to a given standardall makes, sizes and tempers of connectors, without having to makeextensive manual and physical adjustments to the tool.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedcrimping tool that can be selectively adjusted to positively crimpvarious sizes of connectors-to a desired indentation.

Other objects and many attended advantages of this invention will bereadily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference tothe following description and with the accompanying drawings in whichlike reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figuresthereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a crimping tool of this inventionwith part being broken away and in section and with the handle in'theopen position.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational View of the crimping tool of thisinvention with part broken away and in section and with the handle beingin the partially closed position.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the crimping tool of thisinvention with part being broken away and in section and with the handlebeing in the closed position.

FIGURE 4 is a side view of a part of the crimping tool illustrating theindentor gap control and the indicator panel.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 4 taken along lines 55.

FIGURE6 is a top view of the indentor gap control.

FIGURE 7 is a composite view of parts of the crimping tool broken out inan exploded view.

Referring now to the drawings, a crimping tool, generally indicated bythe numeral 10, includes a pair of handle members 11 and 12, adapted forpivotal interconnection at one of their ends. Handle member 12 comprisesa U-shaped body portion having a pair of joined side plates, see FIGURE5, with aligned apertures 51 extending through the side plates forreceiving the connector to be crimped. In FIGURE 7 only one side of thepair of side plates 12 is shown. Also extending through the side platesare a plurality of aligned slotted apertures 50 that lie in a circleconcentric about the apertures 51. Handle 11 has an enlarged end portion61 integrally connected with an elongated portion 62 and a reinforcingportion 63. An enlarged opening 39, see

FIGURE 7, extends through the enlarged'end portion i a, 3,226,968Patented Jan. 4, 1966 the handle 11. A plurality of equally spaced,transverse grooves, are formed in the punch holder. Radial passageways71 connect the inner surfacesfof the grooves 70 with the aperture 68.Within each of the grooves 70 is positioned a punch member 22 having anenlarged head portion 73 with an arcuate outer surface adapted forslidable engagement with the adjacent cam surface 25, and an integralcylindrical body portion 74 that extends into the passageway 71 andforms the punch that crimps the connector. The punch end of the bodyportions 74 are ground to a substantially pointed shape whereby thecrimp indentations are more readily formable. Each of the body portions22 are resiliently biased by a spring 25 that continuously urges thearcuate head 73 into contact with the corresponding cam surfaces 25'.The, punch holder 24 is connected to the side plates of the handlemember 12 by means of bolts 23 that extend through slotted apertures 50in the side plates and through the apertures 78 in the punch holder 24.

Also positioned between the side plates of the handle member 12 and thearm 11 and enclosing the punch holder 24 Within the recess of theenlarged head portion 61 of the handle 11, is the gauging means 13.Bolts 23 pass through apertures.80 to fix the gauge member 13 in exactand positive relationship with the punch holder 24. However, it may beseen that both the punch holder 24 and the gauging member 13 may berotatably moved relative to the side members of the handle member 12through movement of bolt 23 within the slotted aper-. tures 50.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the handle members are shown joined, with thepunch holder 24 and punches 22 inserted within the handle member 11 andin position for crimping. Positioned within the bottom of the U of theU-shaped portion of handle 12 is a member 19 having a longitudinalportion 68 and an end portion 69. Mounted on the upper surface of thelongitudinal portion 68 is a track member 15 on which is positioned aslidable indentor gap control member 14. As may be seen the indentor gapcontrol member 14 may be slidably moved longitudinally along the uppersurface of the track member 15. Indentations on the underneath surfaceof the indentor gap. control member 14 coact with ball detent device 17that is resiliently biased by spring 18. The ball resiliently holdsmember 14 in a given position from which it may be selectively moved byexerting sufticient pressure. Thus, member 14 may be selectively movedalong the track to a position of its furthest movement toward thecrimping end as is shown in FIGURE 1. Pin 31 se-. cures the member 19 tothe desired position within the U-shaped handle member 12.

Gauge member 13 is positionedin the manner wherein the undersurface ofend 88 rests upon some portion of the indentor gap control member 14.Indentor gap control member 14 has a series of stair-stepped shoulders89 on which the end 88 of the gauge member 13 may be selectively placed,depending upon the longitudinal positioning of the member 14 along track15. Spring member 1 6.resiliently biases the end 88 of member 13 to aposition wherein it is spaced above the highest point of the indentorgap control member 14 when the arms 11 and 12 are in the open position.

A pawl member 28 is toggled to one of two positions by spring 33 and hasa serrated portion 38 that coacts with projection 35 on handle 11 forholding the handles 11 and 12 to a given position during the closingmovement. A stop member 27 mounted on the upper surface of the end ofthe end portion 69 contacts the reinforcing portion 63 limiting furtherinward movement of handles 11 and 12 during closure to the full crimpedposition.

The indentor gap control member 14 has a pin 90 that projects from theside of the handle 12 through aperture 91'. This pin coacts with aselector member 20. Movable member has an upper projection 2a, which inconjunction with a scale 21, indicates the desired wire size for a givenpositioning of member 14 and the spacing of the punches that will beultimately obtained during crimping. Apertures 48 and 49 of the scaleand selector members align to receive a cotter pin type member forlocking the indentor gap control member or spacer portion 14 in a givenposition. See FIGURES 4 and 6.

In operation, referring now to FIGURE 1, the handles 11 and 12 are intheir fully opened position. Spring member 16 has resiliently biased thegauge member 13 to a position where lip portion 88 is out of contactwith the indentor gap control mechanism 14. As may be surmised, if thehandles were closed in the given position of indentor gap controlmechanism 14, then the greatest degree of inward movement of the punches22 would result. This corresponds on the selector wire scale 21 to thesize wire on which a connector is to be crimped.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, the indentor gap control member 14 has beenmoved against the spring biased detent 17 along the track 15 by movingmember 20. Thus, end 88 of the gauge member 13 is to contact theindentor gap control mechanism 14 on a shoulder displaced two positionsdownwardly from the position of largest radial inward movement of thepunches 22. In closing the handle members 11 and 12, the enlarged end ofthe handle member 11 is rotated, thereby rotating the punch holder 24.and circumferentially rotating pins 23 in the longitudinal slots 54).When the end 88 of member 13 contacts the upper surface of the indentorgap control mechanism 14, then further movement of the gauge member 13is stopped. Further movement of the handle 11 without correspondingmovement of the punch holder 24 will cause bolts 23 to reach the otherside of slots 51? and then the cam portion of the punch members 22 willride up on the cam surfaces 39 and be forced radially inwardly to crimpthe contact 40. As shown in FIGURE 3, the complete closing of the handlemember has moved the punch members 22 into their furthest radiallyinward position for the particular position of the indentor gap controlmember 14.

When the handles are in the open position, pawl 28 is rocked to aposition wherein projection 35 does not contact the serrated portion 38.Closing movement of the handles will cause projection 35 to contact theserrations of serrated portion 38 and to coact therewith preventing anyopening of the handle members. Thus, it may be seen that the handlemembers must move to the fully closed position as shown in FIGURE 3,whereupon projection 35 will push the bottom portion of the pawl member28 to a point where the spring 33 will flip the pawl member 28 into anon-contacting position with projection 35. This releases the handlesallowing them to be opened. Upon opening the handle members, projection35 then contacts the upper portion of the pawl member 28 pushing it tothe position as shown in FIGURE 1.

When in the fully closed position, the reinforcing portion 63 of handlemember 11 contacts stop members 27 preventing further closing of thehandle members.

Although only the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shownand described herein, it is not to be construed that the invention islimited thereto, as numerous modifications will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art; and the invention is to be given its broadestinterpretation within the terms of the following claims:

I claim:

1. A crimping tool for attaching a connector to the end of a conductorcomprising in combination:

first and second handle members pivotally interconnected at one of theirends and being capable of movement between open and closed positions,punches radially disposed at said interconnection of 'said first andsecond handle members that rotate circumferentially during movement ofsaid handle members,

punch forcing means for forcing said punches radially inward in adirection toward intersection of said punches during portions of saidcircumferential movement of said punches,

said punch forcing means being selectively actuated by said pivotalmovement of said handles to force said punches radially inward adistance proportional to the circumferential movement of said handles,

gauge means coacting with said pivotal movement of said handles foractuating said punch forming means upon a given pivotal movement of saidhandles,

and means for selectively varying the point in said circumferentialmovement of said handles at which said gauge means is actuated.

2. A crimping tool for attaching a connector to the end of a conductorcomprising in combination:

first and second handle members pivotally interconnected at one of theirends and being capable of movement between open and closed positions,

stop means for preventing said movement of said handles beyond saidclosed position which closed position is at a single distance betweensaid handles,

punches radially disposed at said interconnection of said first andsecond handle members that rotate circumferentially during movement ofsaid handle members,

punch forcing means for forcing said punches radially inward in adirection toward intersection of said punches during portions of saidcircumferential movement of said punches,

said punch forcing means being selectively actuated by said pivotalmovement of said handles to force said punches radially inward adistance proportional to the circumferential movement of said handlesduring the movement of said handles between actuation of said punchforcing means and said stop means,

gauge means coacting with said pivotal movement of said handles foractuating said punch forming means upon a given pivotal movement of saidhandles,

and means for selectively varying the point in said circumferentialmovement of said handles at which said gauge means is actuated.

3. A crimping tool for attaching a connector to the end of a conductorcomprising in combination:

first and second handle members pivotally interconnected at one of theirends and being capable of movement between open and closed positions,

stop means for preventing said movement of said handles beyond saidclosed position which closed position is at a single distance betweensaid handles,

.' punches radially disposed at said interconnection of said first andsecond handle members that rotate circumferentially during movement ofsaid handle members,

punch forcing means for forcing said punches radially inward in adirection toward intersection of said punches during portions of saidcircumferential movement of said punches,

said punch forcing means being selectively actuated by said pivotalmovement of said handles to force said punches radially inward adistance proportional to the circumferential movement of said handlesduring the movement of said handles between actuation of said punchforcing means and said stop means,

and gauge means coacting with said pivotal movement of said handles foractuating said punch forming means upon a given pivotal movement of saidhandles.

4. A crimping tool for attaching a connector to the end of a conductorcomprising in combination:

first and second handle members pivotally interconnected at one of theirends and being capable of movement between open and closed position,

stop means for preventing said movement of said handles beyond saidclosed position which closed position is at a single distance betweensaid handles,

punches radially disposed at said interconnection of said first andsecond handle members that rotate circumferentially during movement ofsaid handle members,

punch forcing means for forcing said punches radially inward in adirection toward intersection of said punches during portions of saidcircumferential movement of said punches,

said punch forcing means being selectively actuated by said pivotalmovement of said handles to force said punches radially inward adistance proportional to the circumferential movement of said handlesduring the movement of said handles between actuation of said punchforcing means and said stop means,

gauge means coacting with said pivotal movement of said handles foractuating said punch forming means upon a given pivotal movement of saidhandles,

means for selectively varying said gauge means to vary the point in saidcircumferential movement of said handles at which said punch formingmeans is actuated,

and locking means for locking said last mentioned means to a given pointin said circumferential movement.

5. A crimping tool for attaching a connector to the end of a conductorcomprising in combination:

first and second handle members pivotally interconnected at one of theirends and being capable of movement between open and closed positions,

a set of punches radially disposed at said interconnection of said firstand second handle members that rotate circumferentially during movementof said handle members,

punch forcing means for forcing said punches radially inward in adirection towards intersection of said punches,

said punch forcing means including punch holder means carried by saidsecond handle member,

said punch holder means being rotatable circumferentially relative tosaid first handle member,

gauge means secured to said punch holder means for preventingcircumferential movement of said punch holder means when said gaugemeans contacts a spacer portion secured to said second handle member insaid pivotal movement,

said punches being moved radially inward when said punch holder means isprevented from moving circumferentially,

and means positioned in said second handle member for selectivelyvarying the amount of said spacer portion between said gauge means andsaid second handle member.

6. The machine of claim 5 wherein said spacer portion comprises a blockhaving a stair-step shoulder portion,

said block being slidable longitudinally along said second handle memberin a manner that said steps may be selectively positioned to contactsaid gauge means upon the closing of said handles.

7. A crimping tool for attaching a connector to the end of a conductorcomprising in combination:

first and second handle members pivotally interconnected at one of theirends and being capable of movement between open and closed positions,

a set of punches radially disposed at said interconnection of said firstand second handle members that rotate circumferentially during movementof said handle members,

punch forcing means for forcing said punches radially inward in adirection towards intersection of said punches,

said punch forcing means including punch holder means carried by saidsecond handle member,

said punch holder means being rotatable circumferentially relative tosaid first handle member,

gauge means secured to said punch holder means for preventingcircumferential movement of said punch holder means when said gaugemeans contacts a spacer portion secured to said second handle member insaid pivotal movement,

said punches being moved radially inward when said punch holder means isprevented from moving circumferentially,

indentor control means positioned in said second handle member forselectively varying the amount of said spacer portion between said gaugemeans and said second handle member thereby selectively determining themovement of said punch holder,

indicator means attached to said indentor control means for indicatingthe amount of radial movement of said punches,

ratchet means interconnected between said handle members for preventingdisengagement of said punches from said connector until said handleshave fully completed said pivotal movement,

and resilient means for resiliently biasing said gauge means fromcontact with said second handle member upon opening said handle members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,753,742 7/1956Buchanan. 3,028,776 4/1962 Keller et al. 3,059,511 10/1962 Morris.

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

MILTON S, MEHR, Examiner.

1. A CRIMPING TOOL FOR ATTACHING A CONNECTOR TO THE END OF A CONDUCTORCOMPRISING IN COMBINATION: FIRST AND SECOND HANDLE MEMBERS PIVOTALLYINTERCONNECTED AT ONE OF THEIR ENDS AND BEING CAPABLE OF MOVEMENTBETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS, PUNCHES RADIALLY DISPOSED AT SAIDINTERCONNECTION OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND HANDLE MEMBERS THAT ROTATECIRCUMFERENTIALLY DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID HANDLE MEMBERS, PUNCH FORCINGMEANS FOR FORCING SAID PUNCHES RADIALLY INWARD IN A DIRECTION TOWARDINTERSECTION OF SAID PUNCHES DURING PORTIONS OF SAID CIRCUMFERENTIALMOVEMENT OF SAID PUNCHES, SAID PUNCH FORCING MEANS BEING SELECTIVELYACTUATED BY SAID PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID HANDLES TO FORCE SAID PUNCHESRADIALLY INWARD A DISTANCE PROPORTIONAL TO THE CIRCUMFERTIAL MOVEMENT OFSAID HANDLES, GAUGE MEANS COACTING WITH SAID PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAIDHANDLES FOR ACTUATING SAID PUNCH FORMING MEANS UPON A GIVEN PIVOTALMOVEMENT OF SAID HANDLES, AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY VARYING THE POINT INSAID CIRCUMFERENTIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID HANDLES AT WHICH SAID GAUGE MEANSIS ACTUATED.